4 A New Era Ⅰ

The days began to blur as days turned into weeks, then months.

Alva spent his days listening to those around him for any information he could gather.

The scope of the information available was severely minimal. Lisa was a simple woman who rarely concerned herself with the latest news or events outside of gossip among the other housewives. Alva only had contact with Sakura at meals, and by chance in the hall.

He would ask his father any one of his myriad of questions; however, Francis has been gone for almost nine months now. None of the servants in the house knew when they could expect the masters' return.

From what Alva could gather, he was on the coast in a giant port city seagulls, and the smell of the sea filled the air.

The dinner table consistently full of, fruit, various aquatic life, and chicken clued him in as well.

From his windowsill Alva could see a clock tower in the center of hundreds of stone buildings with terracotta roofs, reminding him of Kings Landing from his favorite show.

Over the last eleven months, Alva slowly revealed more and more of his intelligence and ability to Lisa and Sakura. Taking care not to do too much too soon.

Alva didn't know what their reaction might be.

If he was labeled a monster child and cast out, he didn't know how to sustain himself.

By now he was walking around the house and chatting with the adults matching their level.

Initially all of the servants where shocked, however, they then grew excited about the future of the Drake house lead by a great prodigy.

Lisa often left her three-year-old son Clyde to play with Alva.

Opening the door.

"Oh little Alva," Lisa said. "playing soldier again? Which game is it today squats, sit-ups or what ya call it— jumping jacks? "

"Push-ups and box jump," Alva said.

"A new game? Why don—

"Mama, mama Alvi not playin with me!"

Clyde ran to his mother.

"Okay, sweetie; Alva why not play a game you can play together?"

Lisa wanted the boys to get along.

Alva ignored her "Lisa will dad be home in time for my birthday?"

"Ah uh umm I—sure he will! Let me go ask Sakura to make sure."

Turning on her heels as fast as a dancer Lisa was out of sight before the door could close.

Alva burst with laughter. "Works every time."

Clyde turned to Alva "Play?"

"No."

Alva then dropped to the floor to finish his push-ups.

Clyde returned to playing with the model boat in the corner.

After seeing his growth, Alva decided to start physical training early. With his first birthday still three days away he was shocked to see his size.

" This body is incredible I'm already 37 inches(95 cm) tall and at least 40 pounds. (18kg) I bet I'll be as tall as my father, maybe taller."

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Alva's birthday came, only eating a bit of a cake as a part of the regular dinner to celebrate. Francis had not returned, so Alva had a meal with the servants Sakura the maid, Doppins, the chef, and Lisa joined with her son Clyde.

That day Sakura received a reply in the mail. A letter from Francis; he was ordering her to teach Alva reading and writing. When Alva is ready, she is to give him the key to the study.

It only took a day for him to master the writing system and earn the key.

Moving down the hall from his bedroom Alva opened the doors of Francis' study.

The room was larger than the dining room, with a wooden desk in the center.

Bookshelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling.

A large map hung on the wall behind the desk labeled South Blue.

"Jackpot" Alva entered the study with a grin.

Alva spent the next two weeks reading all he could.

He learned he was in the Kingdom of Briss on Sky Fang island.

Among many other things about geography, history and the political system of Briss and the world at large.

_______________________________________________________

One afternoon while Alva read, the study door swung open Francis stumbled into the room.

"Alva, I have returned!"

"Father you're back, when did you get to port? I would have come to meet you."

"Before noon, I had to celibate our safe return, my promotion, the weather and...

"—I got it, congratulations," Alva said.

'Wow, he'll come up with any reason to drink.'

The smell of alcohol permeated the air.

"The men kept me there longer."

"I see," said Alva "Father teach...

—"Great news! Gold Rodger was captured. AHAHAHA Justice prevails!"

...Ah, Who?" Alva was perplexed by the outburst.

"The worst criminal to sail the seas. Pirate King Gold Roger, we got him!"

"Son, have Sakura pack your things we are going to Loguetown!"

Throwing an empty bottle on the floor Francis walked to his room and closed the door.

"What the hell?" Alva was left in the study.

Today was the first time Alva saw the city outside of his home. Alva watched the city from his window seat heading down from the residential area to the harbor in a carriage.

He could see almost all of Briss kingdom—nestled between the sea to the north and mountains in the south, lush jungle covering their base—a large city on a larger island.

A city full of life and activity merchant stalls lined the main road. Citizens and visitors alike filled the sidewalks and stores. Vibrant colors and various sights filled his eyes as no two buildings were the same.

To the average observer, the city seemed faultless—clean streets full of happy people.

To the more astute observer, however, this was just the surface.

Alva looked into the allies and saw groups of children in rags, and not everyone on the street wore the same uncaring smile. A man wearing less than a desirable set of clothing looked into Alva's eyes.

"Father," Alva said, "Why do the people look at us like that?"

"Because we are nobles. The Drake family have held prestige serving the crown for generations. My older brother inherited the household while I was appointed a knight, but we are Drakes all the same."

"I see, and the people?"

"They are the envious lower class. As a branch family, we are not at the top of the food chain, but we stand far above them."

The rest of the way was silent as Alva considered his fathers' words.

'' I've seen that look plenty, anger with a hint of hope. Looking at the wealthy as the source of their misery. That won't last long...'' Alva thought.

Arriving at the harbor Alva was impressed by the size of the Marine ships. Having never been on the sea before he was excited more than he would show.

The trip to Loguetown was uneventful, as they sailed in almost a straight line. Alva spent his time exploring the parts of the ship he was allowed to see and sneaking into the places he wasn't

While fishing Alva saw giant shadows move in the depths of perfectly calm water.

"What's that?!"

"Son that's a sea king they nest here in the calm belts around the grand line."

"It's huge! I'm glad it didn't attack us." Alva was scared of the massive monster.

"HAHAHA yes, that would be horrifying. Sea kings would normally attack any ship in their territory, but it didn't notice us. All marine ships are coated on the underside by sea-prism stone a sort of camouflage," Francis said

"This really is a crazy world," Alva said.

They arrived on the day of the execution.

The island was full of people tens of thousands possibly even hundreds of thousands.

Alva felt an unnerving feeling in the air as all the people moved in the same direction in perfect silence. It was the strangest thing he had ever seen.

"Are all of these people here to see the execution of a single pirate?" Alva said.

Standing next to his father they stood with another group of marines.

Francis gave a precise salute to a Vice Admiral in the front.

"Alva see that man, that's the legend Garp D. Monkey he is the only person ever to best the pirate king," Francis said